Michael Fay

The Climb

Method in the vineyard and cellar is the backbone of Michael Fay’s career. Training at the University of Washington School of Forestry Management and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo gave that work its technical base, but the practical education came from the field: first as vineyard worker at Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley in Santa Maria Valley, CA, then as head winemaker at Goldeneye Winery in Anderson Valley, CA. The sequence matters. Vineyard decisions and cellar decisions are not separate disciplines; in Fay’s path, each one informed the other. Today, Michael is Vice President of Winemaking & Viticulture of Domaine Serene.

Today

At Domaine Serene, Michael Fay holds the work of both vineyard and cellar under one mandate: keep the wine moving with discipline from site to bottle. As Vice President of Winemaking and Viticulture in Dayton, and also Director of Winemaking and Viticulture there, the role asks for consistency across premium, luxury Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines. The job is less about flourish than about keeping every choice accountable to the final glass. The style is built on balance between science and artistry, with Fay saying, "I enjoy the balance of science and artistry at all stages of grape growing and winemaking, using both sides of the brain to craft experiential wines that resonate with people." That approach puts intention ahead of decoration. The work is to make wines that carry their own structure and character without the winemaker crowding them out. That restraint shows in the philosophy as well: "My goal isn’t to speak for the wines, but to let the wines speak for themselves." In practical terms, that means making decisions carefully, then leaving room for the wine to show what was done.

Signature

Michael's signature wines include Gold Eagle Vineyard Pinot Noir, Evenstad Reserve Chardonnay, Mongram Pinot Noir, and Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir.

In Their Words “I enjoy the balance of science and artistry at all stages of grape growing and winemaking, using both sides of the brain to craft experiential wines that resonate with people.” “My goal isn’t to speak for the wines, but to let the wines speak for themselves.”

Recognition

Recognition here is tied to responsibility: the leadership of winemaking and viticulture for a Dayton winery producing luxury Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and sparkling wines. Fay’s work is marked by control, attention, and a consistent bias toward intention over display, with the result measured in the glass rather than in the gesture.